Dania Panel Rejects Plan For Temporary Jail In Motel

April 3, 1985|By Renee Krause, Staff Writer

DANIA — A request for a zoning variance that would allow a temporary Broward County jail to be established in a vacant Howard Johnson`s motel was denied unanimously by the city`s Planning and Zoning Board Tuesday.

County officials must now ask city commissioners next Tuesday to grant the variance if they are to move nonviolent male inmates from the county jail to temporary quarters in the motel, now in the county`s possession as part of the expansion of Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International Airport.

Despite promises from Sheriff Nick Navarro and County Administrator Floyd Johnson, residents and board members were unconvinced that the county would keep a promise of vacating the temporary jail by July 31. A new 840-bed county jail is scheduled to open July 1.

Seven residents spoke against the proposed variance.

Robert Krouse compared the county`s problem of reducing the number of inmates in the county jail to the influx of refugees to South Florida. In trying to cope with the refugees, the government ``came up with Krome Avenue. And Krome Avenue still exists.``

Gloria Daly, who said she worked at the sheriff`s office for three years, said she did not believe security would be sufficient at a motel.

``When they cannot keep men in jail without escapes, why do they think they can do it at Howard Johnson`s?`` she asked.

Ray Carson, director of public works for the county, said a razor-wire fence would be built behind the motel on Federal Highway and a chain-link fence would be added to the front. Other than the fences, he said the motel`s appearance would be essentially the same.

Several people, including board members, said a jail so close to the airport would be a horrendous first sight for visitors.

``That area is the gateway to Broward County. I personally do not like the idea of people coming in with the greeting of a jail,`` said board member Audrey Cassese.

Board Chairman Sam Calandra accused the county of dumping its problems on Dania.

``The state has a problem. The county has a problem. Now you`re coming and dumping the problem on a city of about 12,000,`` he said. ``We don`t deserve that.``

The state Department of Corrections and a federal judge have ordered the county to reduce its jail population. As of Tuesday, Navarro said the jail population was 25 less than the capacity of 1,170 imposed by U.S. District Judge William Hoeveler.

Navarro and Johnson said they have alternative plans should Dania deny the variance. However, the alternatives are not ``viable`` because they are would not be ready soon enough to satisfy federal and state officials ordering the reduction of Broward`s jail population, Johnson said.